OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

12681 <Loganftp@a...> 1997‑01‑28 Bio and De-lurk
Hi Galoots!

Well its time to de-lurk.  I've been lurking for about two months and I feel
like I've known you guys for years.

Anyways, my name is Dave Tobbe and I live in Grosse Pointe Farms Michigan,
literally two blocks outside Detroit.  I'm 34 yrs old with a SWMBO but no
little ones yet.  Gladly she sort of understands the need for more iron but
now she wants her "own" workbench.

I'm a licensed contractor but had to get a "real" job instead of pounding
nails all day.  Somehow I've managed to end up as the regional sales manager
for a company that sells hydraulic arbors and chucks and gear inspection
tooling which all made in Germany.  (I'm not an engineer, but I play one
every day)  We also sell something called a sub-miniature transducer that is
capable of measuring in microns which is used by gage builders.

BTW, I loved the threads regarding "how flat is flat."  Not wanting to
re-ignite the fires and for you engineering challenged kinds out there and to
put this in perspective a human hair is about 3 1/2 thou., 0.0035" or (0.0889
mm) thich, a "tenth" is 0.0001" or (0.00254 mm) and a micron is 0.000039" or
(0.001 mm).   We're talking way smaller than a nat's a**.  In fact one of my
customer's slogans is "accuracy in the millionths."  I deal with these kinds
of tolerances all day long so when someone says their plane bottom is flat
within a thou (0.001') I have to smile.

Don't get me wrong this isn't some kind of snobbery - exactly the opposite,
I'll take  the more "open"  and forgiving tolerances of woodworking over gage
building any day!

I got into woodworking about 6 yrs ago when we bought our first house.  We
bought a two family and re-habbed both units and now we are landlords.  I
decided to make some storm windows for the basement windows.  Well one thing
let to another and now there are 7 tongue and groove and rabbeted storm
windows sitting in the garage.  (We put in glass block this summer).  Enough
routering for me to last a lifetime!

Since then I've make bookcases, a stereo cabinet, and even a new kitchen
table.  My current project is a new workbench with a top made out of old
bowling alley wood I scrounged for free.
   
My current "collection" consists of:  
a #4 type 14 which I rescued from the junk shop missing just about everything

a spiffy late model #5 (at least its got wood handles)
a cracked through and welded #5 1/2 
a cracked through and welded #6 
a repainted #7C which I overpaid for because it was nice and clean 
a brand new 9 1/2 the SWMBO got me for Christmas.

Of course I've got some of the requisite layout and marking tools except a
"good" straight edge and a nice marking gage.

Anyways, Its nice to be on the porch!

Dave

PS, anyone got a scanning coordinate measuring machine in their basement?



Recent Bios FAQ